Sterilizingr-carrier for clinical thermometers



Batented June 3, 1919.

, on. /J l v C. J." LANGL'EY AND C, P. WOOD. STERILIZLNG CARRIER FOR CLINICAL THERMOMETERS.

APPLICAION FILED DEC. 30, 1918.

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UNITED sTATFs PATENT oFFIcF..

CORTLAND J. LANGLEY AND CLARENCE P. WOOD, OF PHILADELPHIA, ZEENNSYLVA'N IA.

STERILIZING-CARRIER FOR CLINICAL THERMOMETERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June s, 1919.

Application filed December 30, 1918. ySerial No. 268,897.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, CORTLAND J. LANG LEY and CLARENCE P. VOOD, citizens of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia,` State of Pennsylvania, lhave invented a new and useful Sterilizing-Carrier for Clinicaly Thermometers, of which the following is a specification.

ur invention consists of a sterilizing carrier for a clinical thermometer composed of members as will be hereinafter described, the novel features of the same being pointed out in the claims that follow the specification.

The invention is satisfactorily illustrated in the accompanying drawing, lout the important instrumentalities thereof may be varied, and so it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to thel specific details shown and described, asl long as theyV are within the Spirit or scope of the claims.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a sterilizing carrier for a clinical thermometer embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section thereof on line 2-2 Fig. l;V

Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of a bushing employed in the device.

3o in VFig. 5 represents atransverse section on Fig. 4 represents a side elevation of a portion of the barrel or body of the exterior casof the device.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corv responding parts in the figures. l

Referring to the drawingsl designates a barrel comprising the body of an exterior casing of the device, and 2 designates a closing cap for the `open end of` said barrel, said cap and barrel being formed of hard rubber or other suitable material and adapted to be connected by screw threads 3 or other suitable means on the respective cupy the interior of the cap 2 whereby it is readily accessible when the latter is removed.

In the side of the b'arrel is the sight openf rubber or other suitable tight joint therewith and a stop that the bore of the latter ing 61which exposes a portion of the transparent vial 4 so thatfwhen the cap is removed the condition of the fluid in the vial may be viewed through the wall of the latter, said cap being of such length that when it is in position on the barrel said opening is both concealed and covered and the vial is not exposed and so the latter is not liable to be broken from the exterior of the barrel.

v7 designates a tubular gasket of soft rubber or other suitable resilient material, the same being seated on the top of the vial t and so ne'ar theupper end of the interior of the barrel l, the bore` of said gasket being adapted torreceive the contiguous portion of the thermometer and suiiiciently tightly embrace the same. Y

4In'terposed on said gasket and separate therefrom is the tubular bushing 8 of hard rigid material, the same havingr on its bottom the exteriorly threaded neck 9 of reduced diameter, above the same, the conical portion 10 and intermediate of the latter and said neck the outturned shoulder ll, it being noticed that the side o-f said neck may be screwed into the interior of the upper portion of the barrel l and so be secured positively thereto. the bottom of said neck maybe seated on the top of thegasket 7 so asv to retain the latter in place and impart the proper compression and tension to the same, and theJ shoulder l1 may be seated on the top of thevial 4, and form a for the poit being noticed is adapted to receive the contiguous portion of the 'thermometer, the bushing serving also fas a guide sltioning of said b-ushing,

for the thermometer in its movements in and out, and means for holding and steadying the thermometer true while in the vial.

On the side of the conical portion l0 of the bushing is the knurl 12 `by which the bushing f ing the vial in the barrel and also permit ot' the insertion ot a pin or ot-her implement so as to reach the bottom of the vial and exert pressure on said bottom to assist in removing the vial should it stick in the barrel. Y

It will be seen that when the cap is removed the thermometer may be drawn out and removed for use in sterilized condition. As it passes through the gasket it is wiped ot the sterilizing fluid by its contact with the bore of the gasket and that of the bushing, in which cleansed condition it may be applied to the patient whose temperature is to be taken. As the thermometer leaves the gasket the latter contracts and its bore closes whereby the sterilizing duid cannot escape from the vial.

When the thermometer is to be restored into the vial and consequently into the sterilizing fluid it ispushed through the bushing and gasket when the bore of the latter opens to permit the thermometer to pass therethrough, the gasket then tightly closing against the thermometer assisting with the bushing to hold and steady the thermometer in place.

As the thermometer passes through the bore of the bushing the saliva on the Jformer is wiped-oit by the latter, and further wiped by the bore ot the gasket, and so as the saliva cannot enter the vial'the thermometer reoccupies the sterilizing fluid in clean condition. The cap is then applied to the barrel and secured thereto completely inclosing the top of the thermometer and the top of the bushing and covering the sight opening 6, as illustrated in Figs. l and 2. The device may then be placed in a pocket, case or other receptacle with safety against breakage of the interior members or liability of breaking, it being evident that the device is composed of members few in numbers and inexpensive in construction, and said members may be readily disassembled, renewed or replaced by other members if so required, and all of the members as readily reassembled.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a sterilizing carrier for a clinical thermometer, a barrel, a cap connectible therewith, a receptacle for sterilizing material adapted to be contained in said barrel, a resilient tubular gasket adapted to be seated on the top of said receptacle, and a tubular bushing` of rigid material adapted to be imposed on said gasket, said barrel and bushing being provided with means whereby said bushing may be secured positively to said barrel and adapted to exert compression on said gasket.`

2. In a sterilizing carrier for a clinical thermometer, a barrel, the same having an interiorly Vthreaded portion, a receptacle therein adapted to contain a sterilizing material, a resilient tubular gasket in said barrel adapted to be seated on thetop ofsaid receptacle and allow a thermometer to enter the same, and a rigid tubular bushing adapted to be connected with said barrel to be seated separately on said gasket and to allow a. thermometer to enter the same, said bushing having a threaded neck for connection with said threaded portion of said barrel.

3. In a sterilizing carrier for a clinical thermometer, va barrel, a cap connectible therewith, a receptacle for sterilizing material vin said barrel, said receptacle being formed of transparentmaterial, and means on said barrel and receptacle for retaining a thermometer in the latter, said barrel -having in its side a sight opening whereby the contents of said receptacle may be viewed through the wall of the latter from the eX- terior of said barrel.

4. In a sterilizing carrier for a clinical thermometer, abarrel, the same having in its side a sight opening, a receptacle therein adapted to contain a sterilizing.material, a resilient tubular gasket in said barrel adapted to be seated on the top of said receptacle and allow a thermometer to enter the same, and a rigid tubular bushing adapted to be connected with said barrel to be seated separately on said bushing and to allow a thermometer to enter the same, said bushing having a threaded neckfor connection with said barrel and provided on its side with a grasping knurl, said cap when attached to said barrel being adapted to cover said sight opening.

5. In a sterilizing carrier for a clinical thermometer, a barrel, a receptacle therein adapted to contain sterilizing material for the thermometer, the bottom portion of said barrel having therein a port adapted to form both an air vent and means for directing an implement to the bottom of said receptacle to assist in removing the latter from said barrel.

6. In a sterilizing carrier for a clinical thermometer, a barrel, a receptacle for sterilizing material adapted to be contained in said barrel, a gasket adapted to' be seated on the top of said receptacle, said gasket having an opening therein, and a tubular bushing having a reduced neck adaptedto be seated on said gasket, the thermometer being adapted to be passed through the bores of said bushing and gasket, said bushing having on its side an outturned shoulder which is adapted to be seated on the top of said barrel.

7. In a sterilizing carrier for a clinical thermometer, a barrel, a receptacle for sterilizing material adapted to be contained in said barrel, a gasket adapted to be seated on the top ot' said receptacle, said gasket having v bushing and gasket, said bushing having on an opening therein, and a tubular bushing above said shoulder having thereon a grasphaving a reduced neck adapted to be seated ing knurl. on said gasket, the thermometer being adapted to be passed through the bores of saidl CORTLAND 'I' LANGLEY CLARENCE P. WOOD.

Witnesses:

WM. H. BEGLEY, Jr., C. TREVOR DUNHAM.

its side an outturned shoulder which is adapted to be seated on the top of said barrel, a portion of the side of said bushing Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. C. 

